Quicklinks

Poll

When will ice-out occur on Rainy Lake this year?:

Before April 15

April 16-30

May 1-15

After May 15

Motion on winter roads passes

Monday, 21 April 2014 - 1:20pm

Press release

Local MPP Sarah Campbell’s motion that calls on the government to establish a select committee, with a view at improving winter road conditions before the 2015 season, passed second reading Thursday.
Campbell also received positive support from other MPPs who experienced similar road conditions in their ridings.

“This winter, the northwest in particular has experienced the worst winter in memory in terms of unsafe travelling of highways across our region,” she noted.
“I have heard concerns like tragic accidents, jackknifed tractor-trailers, and the inability of emergency vehicles and crews to safely arrive on scene.
“What’s worse is that these conditions weren’t only experienced at the time of or shortly after a winter storm,” added Campbell.
“These subpar conditions have been experienced consistently since the region’s first snowfall on Nov. 18.”
Pointing out that only certain contractors are maintaining the roads to standards set by MTO, Campbell called for the select committee to review a list of requirements.
These include the clarity of the contracts set out by MTO, penalties and fines for non-compliance, plowing frequency, and patrolling frequency, as well as highway classifications themselves.
Campbell cited concerns about the lack of safety for families, seniors, and workers, as well as businesses in the region, which rely on our highways.
“The bottom line is that reforms need to be made, and they need to be made soon in advance of next winter, so that we don’t see history repeat itself,” she stressed.